Home Office

Riot Control Weapons

Alison Thewliss: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in what circumstances (a) rubber bullets and (b) tear gas are authorised for use in the UK.

Kevin Foster: Rubber bullets and tear gas are not authorised for use by police forces in the United Kingdom. Guidance on the use of equipment such as Attenuating Energy Projectiles and the use of irritant sprays is set out in the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice here: https://www.app.college.police.uk.

Windrush Generation: Compensation

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful Windrush Compensation Scheme claims there have been in each month since April 2019.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how much money has been paid to applicants to the Windrush Compensation Scheme in each month since April 2019.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average processing time is for an application to the Windrush Compensation Scheme.

Priti Patel: Information on the total number of applications, claims paid and the overall amount paid out by the scheme since April 2019 is available to view on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-july-2020. We are processing claims as quickly as possible, but all claims are different, and the time taken will depend on many factors, including the complexity of the case. Furthermore, we are committed to working with the claimant to ensure all possible information is taken into account - this will have an impact on the length of time it takes to process the claim but can result in a higher level of payment. Wherever possible, we will make interim payments on parts of the claim that are straightforward to determine, such as immigration fees, thereby speeding up the provision of compensation.

Windrush Generation: Compensation

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the administrative efficiency of the Windrush Compensation Scheme in making payments to eligible people.

Priti Patel: The Home Office is processing claims as quickly as possible, but all claims are different, and the time taken will depend on many factors, including the complexity of the case. Wherever possible, the Home Office makes interim payments on parts of the claim that are straightforward to determine, such as immigration fees.However, it is worth noting that the Home Office works with claimants during the process to obtain as much information about the claim as possible. This approach ensures that claimants receive the maximum amount to which they are entitled under the schemeThe most recent published statistics on the payments made under the Windrush Compensation Scheme show a clear increasing trajectory of payments: £755,111 paid up to 30 June 2020, of which £392,114 was paid in the most recent three months of that period. I also announced on 15 July that over £1.5m has now been offered in compensation to claimants. Once the offers are accepted by the applicants, the payments will be made.

Windrush Generation: Compensation

Darren Henry: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department has taken to review the effect of the covid-19 outbreak on the efficiency of the Windrush Compensation Scheme in processing claims.

Priti Patel: The Home Office is processing claims as quickly as possible, but all claims are different, and the time taken will depend on many factors, including the complexity of the case. The Home Office recently published statistics on the payments made under the Windrush Compensation Scheme (WCS) at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-july-2020. These show a clear increasing trajectory of payments: £755,111 paid up to 30 June 2020, of which £392,114 was paid in the most recent three months of that period. which includes the initial period of the covid-19 lockdown. I also announced on 15 July that over £1.5m has now been offered in compensation to claimants. Once the offers are accepted by the applicants, the payments will be made. The trajectory of compensation awards therefore continues to increase, despite the covid-19 lockdown.

Windrush Generation: Compensation

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the average award from the Windrush Compensation Scheme was in each month since April 2019.

Kate Osamor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many successful applicants to the Windrush Compensation Scheme have been awarded less than £1000 since April 2019.

Priti Patel: Information on the amount of compensation paid under the Windrush Compensation Scheme is available to view on GOV.UK at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/windrush-compensation-scheme-data-may-2020.Average calculations are possible, but it would be wrong to infer these as overall averages as some of the payments are interim payments, where we have resolved part of the claim and the claimant may then be entitled to further compensation as we resolve the remainder of the claim. Furthermore, impacts on individuals have varied greatly, so each claim is unique and the compensation reflects individual circumstances.

Windrush Lessons Learned Review

Bell Ribeiro-Addy: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many times officials in her Department have met with the office of Wendy Williams, author of the Windrush lessons learned review.

Priti Patel: Wendy Williams was appointed the independent adviser of the Windrush Lessons Learned Review on 21 June 2018. Home Office officials met the Review team on a regular basis throughout the period of the Review, and continue to maintain contact with Wendy Williams during the implementation phase.